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Canadian travel warning issued for Jamaica after military lockdown in St. James Parish

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Friday, January 19, 2018
4:36:28 EST PM

In this Sept. 14, 2014 photo, sunbathers walk along resort-lined crescent beach in Negril in western Jamaica. Canadian sun seekers in Jamaica are being urged to ``exercise a high degree of caution'' following a spate of violent crime in the popular winter getaway. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David McFadden

Canadian sun seekers in Jamaica are being urged to "exercise a high degree of caution" following a spate of violent crime in the popular winter getaway.

The Canadian government has issued a travel warning in the wake of a military lockdown in St. James Parish, which includes the popular tourist destination Montego Bay.

The government's safety note urges anyone staying at a resort in the affected area to "restrict your movements" to the property.

Those who venture beyond should use transportation arranged by the resort and only use organized tour operators for excursions and travel.

#Jamaica a state of emergency is in effect for St James Parish, which includes #MontegoBay as a result of a significant increase in violent crime. Military forces have been deployed to the area. https://t.co/jiGojvTy9V 1/2

#Jamaica If you are staying at a resort in the affected area, restrict your movements beyond resort security perimeters. If you are in the affected area, be extremely vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities. 2/2

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said escalating criminal activity was endangering public safety, necessitating a state of public emergency and the deployment of military forces.

A married couple from Winnipeg was found dead earlier this month while visiting Jamaica.

"If you are in the affected area, be extremely vigilant, follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor local news," says the Canadian travel warning.

The "exercise a high degree of caution" advice falls below the government's next risk level, which calls for avoiding all non-essential travel.

There are currently more than 60 countries where the Canadian government warns travellers to "exercise a high degree of caution," including other Caribbean nations such as the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.